Problems · by component

1996 Jeep Cherokee steering problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee cite steering, 8% of all 450 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
34
8% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 TO 75 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE IN THE FRONT END SO SEVERELY WE HAD TO SLOW COMPLETELY DOWN AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TO A STOP COMPLETELY. THE JEEP IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I HAVE READ OF OTHER INCIDENTS THAT THEY HAVE NAMED IT THE DEATH WOBBLE. IT COULD HAVE MADE US FLIP OVER AND WE COULD HAVE DIED IN A ROLL OVER. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US BEFORE AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE SHOCKS, BUT THAT HAS EVIDENTLY NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS FROM WHAT WE READ AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2018SteeringODI 11096835
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THEN BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER STEERING GAUGE AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WERE NEEDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2018Steering, Suspension, Power trainODI 11090348
“WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED AS THE "JEEP DEATH WOBBLE".”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2017SteeringODI 10948132
“AFTER VIEWING WEB SITE FOUND INFORMATION ON THIS 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE THIS RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALL INCOMPLETE STATUS PURCHASE THIS JEEP IN AUGUST 2011 NOTICE VEHICLE STEERING BOX WAS LOOSE.I FEEL THAT JEEP WAS NOT UNEXPECTED GOOD HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS AS LOOKING INTO THE DATA PURCHASE THIS FROM THIS COMPANY HAVE TO CALLIN FOR VEHICLE THEY FINALLY SHIP THIS IS NOT SAFE.NEEDSOME ASSISTANCES OF GETTING A REFUND THEY HAD TO KNOW THIS SOME INFO WAS SEND A BOUT THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACE THEY NEVER TRY TO COMPLETE THIS BEFORE SELLIN THE VEHICLE THIS IS UNSAFE THANKS GOD FOR THIS WEB SITE OF COURSE RIDING LIKE THIS NOT COOL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2014Steering, Service brakesODI 10641475
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OVER A POT HOLE, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V069000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, HE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2013SteeringODI 10552049
“CHEROKEE BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY VIOLENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS RECENTLY AFTER HITTING MINOR BUMPS AT 55 MPH. SHAKING WOULD NOT STOP OR EVEN SUBSIDE UNTIL CAR WAS PULLED OVER. SHAKING SO VIOLENT IT CAUSED AN EXHAUST LEAK. NEVER AN ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY - SEVERAL RECENT INCIDENTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2013Steering, SuspensionODI 10542606

Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)

Free remedy

DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE FRAME, A FILLET WELD THAT JOINS THE INNER STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT TO THE FRAME RAIL, WAS OMITTED.

SteeringReported Apr 28, 1997NHTSA 97V069000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.